3 November 2017

Wolf Parade - Cry Cry Cry

Sometimes
you find out about a band or singer by accident, sometimes through a
recommendation or a chance-listening in a record shop.Wolf Parade come into my life during a
conversation on a message board for the other blog I write for, Bearded
Gentlemen Music (great site, here
is a link that you can check out once you have read this review).From Quebec, Canada, Wolf Parade their fourth
album Cry Cry Cry on 6th
October 2017 on Sub Pop, about a year since the Wolf Parade EP which was their first release since coming back from
a hiatus.I would be lying if I said I
was a Wold Parade fan beforehand, I had not heard of them before that conversation a few
weeks ago.No, what caught my attention
was the cover – that’s right!Even at
this time of year, I am playing another round of cover roulette!For people new to the blog, every now and
then I review an album just based on the cover.The mismatched lines on the front of the cover fascinate me, it looks
like everything is being held together before it crumbles apart, it is a
thought provoking cover for me.It might
mean something else altogether, but that is what I am getting from it.However, what does the album sound like?What is the story behind Cry Cry Cry?

01 – Lazarus Online

Starting with a heavy piano synth, “Lazarus Online” begins with a dramatic song
about fan who is not wanting to die at this point, but who is aware that death
is a constant companion, so why have people around who you love, as you’re not
going to miss them.It sounds like this
would have been a dramatic meeting, with profound after affects for both people
involved.This is a beautiful post-rock
number, it is full of insane hooks and it stays with you long after it has
finished, what a brilliant introduction to this album!

02 – You’re Dreaming

I love it when a band creates some of the jolliest music, then they drape the
most depressive lyrics possible over it!“You’re Dreaming” is one of those songs, they are looking at the modern
age and they aren’t impressed with the collapse of society, but the music is so
catchy and joyous that is impossible not to enjoy it or to stop yourself from
dancing along.It’s a great song, one
that has a powerful message and a great piece of music as well.

03 – Valley Boy

“Valley Boy” starts with a jangling guitar, very much in the style of The
Smiths and the song talks about lose and bereavement.It sorts of drifts along and it has a OTT
chorus that doesn’t really work for me again the verses, same as the bridge and
solo on this one.Each section on their
own is fine, but together it just feels like an old school megamix that doesn’t
get gel seamlessly.

04 – Incantation

“Incantation” is another song that follows the jaunty, but steeped in misery
vibe of the early song of the album, creating a conflicting vibe that is very
engaging and interesting.Sure, at
first, it’s a little different and strange to get your head around it, but it
is worth persevering with it.It is so
much more rewarding that your standard misery song, it has a different view and
it is with a fresh perspective on what this sort of song should be about.

05 – Flies on the Sun

“Flies on the Sun” slows things down a bit, but Wolf Parade don’t cut down on
the quality.To be honest, if anything
they take things up a notch.There is a
serious side to this song, one that I was half expecting to be honest and I’m
glad it has turned up.The drama of the
music, the intensity of the lyrics and the overall performance give “Flies on
the Bus” a shine that makes your pulse race.It is one of my favourite songs on the album, it is an example of what
happens when a band is firing on all cylinders.

06 – Baby Blue

“Baby Blue” has a few weird moments for me, there are parts that sound like
Arcade Fire, parts that sound like early U2 (especially the drumming which
reminds me of “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” – sorry for that).It has a load of riffs and hooks that, on
paper, should not have any business being on the same album, let along on the
same song.But it all works, it sounds
fantastic and I love this one as well.

07 – Weaponized

“Weaponized” is a slower number, one that doesn’t move as fast other songs on
the album.It has a different vibe as
well, with a conflict and love at the centre of everything.It’s a decent number, one which is played
well, but I tend to lose a focus towards the end.

08 – Who Are Ya

“Who Are Ya” is a song about aspiration and falling short of your goals, having
those dreams shattered and the frustrations that come with failure.It is another number which should not really
work that well, the keyboard is so happy, the music is dynamic, and the lyrics
are so damming with a sarcastic twist in the tail.It feels like a Ben Folds song, with a bit of
Zappa synth added to the mix as well, it is a song that I cannot turn off, even
if I tried once.

09 – Am I An Alien Here

“Am I An Alien Here” is a song about dreams, nightmares and how sometimes reality
is more fucked up that the strange musing in your mind make you feel like an
outsider.It touches on the passing of
Bowie, the rise of evil and it is all completed in a sombre style.It is a good song, one of the strongest on
the album in tone, lyrics and overall performance.

10 – Artificial Life

“Artificial Life” sounds like a new version of the Jam musically for me, it is
a stomping indie song that has a dancing quality.It is about feeling like reality does not
seem real and when the end of days arrives, we would be the last to be saved
(if we were saved at all).It’s another
dark song as we head towards the end of this record, but when misery and
paranoia sound this good, those floods at the end of time won’t seem so bad.

11 – King of Piss & Paper

“King of Piss & Paper” ends the album on a defiant note, one about the
Orange dick who is (at the time of writing) currently in the White House, about
his attack on the world of art and the world in general.It is a brilliant ending to this album, with
a song that has fire in its belly and a message of defiance at its heart.You sometimes have to pick your battles that
are important to you, Wolf Parade have picked there’s and they are leaving it
at the door on the way out.

Cry Cry Cry is a flamboyant record,
one that sounds like a Canadian Indie cousin to the Irish legend that is The
Divine Comedy.That’s as big of a
compliment as I can give to this band, they have a special something that makes
them standout of the crowd, in the same way that Neil Hannon has made baroque
pop his own personal calling card.Wolf
Parade are a joyous little band, one that seems to live in misery, but also
loves to create beautiful music as well. Not everything on this album is a success, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.Cry Cry Cry is another cover
roulette success, check out this little hidden gem of 2017.

8 out of ten – Oh, now you have my attention, and maybe my time, money and
heart.

Welcome to the final round-up review of 2017! Similar to the Round-Up posts I put up earlier in the year, I’m going to be posting some bull...

Translate

Notice to all....

There is nothing to download here - We share no links to free downloads, only to either Spotify, Amazon or the artist themselves. Support the artists and purchase the music, or at least listen to the Spotify link - they do get something from there, even if it is criminally low. All views given on this blog are only the opinions of the person who has written the blog and they are to be took with a pinch of salt. If you disagree, that is your choice, just as it is the reviewer's when they post their thoughts and views. Also, any photos used are from sources such as Wikipedia or Amazon - we aim to get free images where ever possible. All copyright belongs to the person who painted the image, the photographer, the graphic designer, the artist/bands in question obviously and as stated above there is no illegal downloads linked to this page.

If you have any requests for what you would like to see reviewed, let us know in a comment. You can also contact us at iisfoley1@gmail.com. Please note, if we have not replied within 3 weeks, we will not be reviewing the submission.

Album scoring system

0 - This is proof there is no deity1 - You're really are touching the bottom of the barrel with this one2 - If only there was some quality control3 - It could have been a bit better4 - Well it's alright, but still......5 -Not for everyone but played well6 - Now I see where you were going, but it's not quite there7 - This is good and well worth a check8 - Oh, now you have my attention and maybe my money, time and heart9 - Almost perfect....Almost10 - This is proof there is a deity(For albums that are too crazy to be marked)Crazy Cat symbol - This album cannot be marked, so here is a box of kittens

Singles/EP Marking System

0 - Only to be listened to by people bless with the gift of being deaf1 - Not so much on the bad that it is bottom of the barrel, but it can see the stuff down there2 - Not bad, not good - so average it is Zen3 - Decent, getting there4 - This is really good, well worth checking out5 - I wish I had extra ears to love this more(For Singles/EPs that are too crazy to mark)Crazy Cat symbol - This release cannot be marked, so here is a box of kittens